Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-12
FIFTEEN THOUSAND A YEAR.
How a Man by Careful MANAGEMENT
Maintains His Family on That Sum.

at must cost him at least So, 900 year to live
and then Of course he has other expenses as fol
instance trip to Europe occasionally. He has nc
difficulty in disposing OF his income you see."
But THE STAR reporter didn't see 1t was evi.
IDENTIFY, however, perfectly clear to the successful
business man who had uttered the remark in the
course OF discussion upon the affairs of wealthy
man whose probable income had been called In
question.
81 think that is good deal OF money for man
to spend repeated the reporter not yet convinced
| Now then he went on shifting the debate, show
much does it cost you to live If it is fair cues
tion?"
Elbow much do you suppose?" was the rather
''Well," said the reporter looking him over care
fully as If taking an inventory the spot Of the
probable cost OF his maintenance, "you are well
| dressed and look as II you had enough to eat.
suppose that you give your family an equally fail
share, and upon this supposition should say tina,
| 1t costs you between six and seven thousand dol
lars TO keep going from one years end to another
He laughed a little over this conclusion, and
then said, rather gravely, 'You must double those
figures If you want to come near my annual ex
penditures for living"
"Double the figures" exclaimed the reporter
with considerable astonishment. .How in the
| world do you manage to spend SO much money!"
"That Is exactly what you said, or rather init
mated. when we were talking over IS affairs,
| able to me in that income now, although some
years ago would have regarded it as fortune in
| i
| great deal less money than that"
| THE QUESTION OF HAPPINESS.
ayes; suppose you were happier then than you
are now" interrupted the reporter.
"Why do you suppose that?" he inquired
"Because that is what all rich men say in books
as well as IN real life: They say that they were
never happier in their lives than when they had a
hard struggle o get along, and all the money and
honor and grandeur OF the latter years has never
been the source OF such real happiness as they
1oyed in the days OF their early struggles with ad.
versity."
ayes, yes" he said, laughing, 81 talk that way
| myself some times. But we all look back upon the
past through softened, hazy atmosphere, and
besides, it is good thing to talk that way, be.
| cause it encourages others who have to climb up
But as FAR as expenses are concerned, those natur
| ally expand with ones means, because our desires
increase in the direct ratio OF ability to crafty
them. When my wife and began we kept no ser:
want. She did the bulk OF the work and I helped
out man fashion on the odds and ends. Then
| after while we kept one servant. Well we en-
| joyed life in both conditions. But as the means
increased and, may add, the family, my wife left
more to the servants. and so OF course we EN-.
| tanned our friends more frequently, we rode in.
| stead OF walking, and as you see in a thousand
and one ways our expenses increased. We moved
Into large house, we kept our carriage the chill
dren had liberal wardrobes, and SO on through the
scale. But we do not live extravagantly. would
never consent to that. We live, as fashionable
| people say, quietly. We are not in the swim. My
| house Is large and modern and is worth With the
| stable probably 100000. own that and have fur
nished it after the prevailing mode, but as home
! not merely to be looked at and admired. We live
plainly, but well. and have the things that are
! necessary TO our comfort without stinting."
| THE YEARLY ACCOUNT.
| 'sNOw would you mind telling me-" said the in.
terested listener, Sin particular, how you manage
to spend twelve or fifteen thousand dollars year?
| You have described in general way how you live,
now can't you give me the hgures?'
| "YOu want me to give you leaf from my fam
| lily account book. Is that the tdea?" he asked,
| good humOredly.
"rhat is about the size Of it," said the reporter,
with becoming mOdeSty.
THAT is rather difficult thing to do exactly"
was the reply, 'butI guess can give you approx
| innate figures which viii answer YOUR purpose
! suppose that you want to show poor men how
they can manage to get along on small income. :"
"Not exactly was the response, "but do you
who cannot understand how Il man could go about
TO spend that much money in one year. It's for
tanned that degree in wealth that l am getting
| future"
"Well, then, let us begin with the servants, he
went on. 81 keep seven servants, as follows: A
| houSekeeper, cook, chambermaid nurse laundreSs,
man for the house and coachman. Their wages
| amount to about $3.50 per month Then the ex-
penses OF the stables where there are four horses
and the necessary carriages reach SO per month.
house, &C., falls within 500 per month, and, as
have said before, live plainly. Then during the
tour or five months OF the winter season enter
| tain quite good deal. We have receptions on a
limited scale and other social affairs which cost
should say, ABOUT $500 per month. Then we go TO
the theater occasionally attend concerts and other
entertainments OF this character, and as my
family are not In the habit OF sitting On each
others laps this item reaches to some 500 per
month. Then, OF course, we have charitable OBJ
jectS to contribute to, our church expenses and
other things OF like character, which may be put
down at $l25 per month. Myself and family con-
form t. the generally prevailing custom of wear
ing clothes, and that adds another item to the
account OF some $50 per month"
CAREFUL LIVING ON $4,000 YEAR.
"Now have given you, he added after pause,
"the main items OF my yearly account for living
expenses, and as you may learn by Slight COM
putatiOn, there is not much of a margin left of
$15, 600 10 meet the contingencies which are al
ways liable to arise. AS for instance, the eX-
penSes OF Sickness travelling entertaining visitors,
and all the extra demands which spring up. gen.
orally when man least wants them. You see
ment manage to exc out an existence on 81, 600
year."
"Suppose the management is not careful" in
Quired the reporter, determined TO arm himself
against any and all contingencies
"Then," was the reply, '.the yearly bill against
large sum OF money without scarcely realizing it,
This latter is extravaganza. But don't Call the
way live extravaganza, because l pay for the
things l have, and If l don't want to spend so
much money, can cut down. / can have fewer
servants, keep smaller stable and in other ways
without making lie miserable reduce the scale u
living. In fact, l could go back TO the mode OF
life when my income was very much less without
any great discomfort, and perhaps have less worry
and bother"
Transfers Of Real Estate.
Deeds in fee have been filed as follows:
W. D. Davis to Marcella II. Richardson, lot 10,